Arise Africa International

Words: 1061
Pages: 5

Uganda has the highest number of orphans in the world, an estimated 2.5 million, due to poverty, disease, war, and abandonment by parents who have died or cannot afford to care for a child (“How Many Orphans”). Child abandonment encompasses any situation where there is a failure to protect, nurture, and provide for a child when they are in need of a parental figure in their life. Child abandonment is a major issue in Uganda, but Arise Africa International offers programs that can help these children live better lives. The poorest children in Uganda deal with circumstances that are unimaginable to American children such as lack of food, water, money, and proper housing. There is a variety of housing options for poor or abandoned children who …show more content…
Their mission is “to preach the gospel, reach the lost, and to plant and help new churches grow in Christ spiritually, numerically, and economically” (“Our Mission”). They accomplish this by partnering with churches and mission teams, training pastors, and discipling believers in the area. Arise Africa offers multiple child development programs because they believe that poverty is felt most intensely by children. From their baby rescue program to primary and secondary schools, they give opportunities to underprivileged children of all ages. They also have an orphanage in Bukaleba that provides children with food, clothing, education, and medical attention that they would not be able to receive elsewhere. In order to provide these essential resources and, in some cases, serious medical treatment, Americans from churches that are partnering with Arise Africa have the ability to sponsor an orphan. Arise Africa has found many ways to administer health and hope to children in …show more content…
Chloe’s visa was denied, prohibiting her from coming to America, so Smooth and Kelly Via sold all they had in North Carolina and moved their family to Jinja, Uganda. In the video Bringing Home to Chloe, a documentary of their journey to Uganda, Smooth says to Chloe, “You never again have to worry about being abandoned. Your birth parents may have left you, but your daddy is never going to leave you. He will always fight for you.” The Via family is taking advantage of having to live in Uganda for the past three years by working with Arise Africa to train pastors and preach to villages throughout the country. Smooth also said, “Sometimes there is a greater glory and a greater story that comes through prolonging the trial. God is telling a story about how he fights for His children, and He is drawing a greater glory for Himself.” On December 23, 2015, Smooth and Kelly were able to fully adopt Chloe, but they have not moved back to America yet. They continue to do successful mission work in Uganda and are thankful that God has been able to use their story for His